Lewis R. Brown, right, is the first faculty member to receive the Ralph E. Powe Research Award. Given by the Office of Research, the newly named honor is a memorial to the vice president for research who died in November. Brown, a faculty member for more than 35 years, is a biological sciences professor who holds the distinction of being the first Mississippi State scientist to receive a million-dollar research contract. Presenting the honor were President Donald W. Zacharias and Sharon Powe, the late vice president's widow.